Chapter 200

Who has ever seen Marquis Gu act like this? Old Madam Gu said, "Alright, alright, Third Son, Mother will arrange it for you, let Qiujie go find Xiuxiang to make some of your favorite dishes."

Qiujie acknowledged and went out.

Gu Jinghui stubbornly looked at Qin Yuan, tilted his head slightly, and asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

Qin Yuan felt inexplicably guilty and fiddled with her bracelet, softly saying, "I accompanied Mother for a meal."

Gu Jinghui fell silent but still kept his gaze fixed on Qin Yuan.

Old Madam Gu said, "Third Son, Yuan’er came to accompany Mother for a meal after such a long time, and you feel aggrieved? If you come here to bully Yuan’er, you must see if Mother will allow it."

"How dare I bully her? Doesn’t she have Mother to protect her? In Mother’s eyes, there’s only the daughter-in-law; where’s my place?"

Gu Jinghui muttered.

There was inexplicable grievance in his voice.

Qin Yuan said, "Husband hasn’t eaten yet? Today I was here speaking with Mother, taking the chance to dine with her, and forgot to send word. That was my fault."

Only then did Gu Jinghui feel a bit better and said, "Hmm, I am still hungry."

Qin Yuan originally planned to leave, but seeing this, she had to stay and accompany Gu Jinghui to finish the meal.

Old Madam Gu engaged the two in idle chatter, discussing how to match pearls to look nice, while Gu Jinghui listened and ate, occasionally forcing a few words into the conversation.

Which slightly annoyed Old Madam Gu.

Brother Cheng and Sister Yu, enraptured by their adopted father Xiang Qin’s tales, sat nearby, densely continuing their conversation topic after topic, with Gu Jinghui mostly hmm-ing and ah-ing them along.

The two little children didn’t feel anything was amiss and grew more excited in their conversation.

Qin Yuan glimpsed at this and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Old Madam Gu said, "Yuan’er, Hui’er is really patient with children, isn’t he?"

The implication being that Gu Jinghui would be even better with his own children.

But a direct mention wasn’t appropriate in front of the two children.

Qin Yuan nodded with a smile.

Gu Jinghui soon finished eating and, after exchanging a few idle words with Old Madam Gu, left with Qin Yuan.

Old Madam Gu said to Nanny Rong, "This Third Son, he’s becoming more and more spoiled, truly can’t handle it."

She shivered, as if wanting to shake off a layer of goosebumps.

Nanny Rong laughed heartily and said, "It shows the good relationship between the two of them; Marquis only acts this way in front of his wife."

"I thought he would be stoic for a lifetime," Old Madam Gu couldn’t help but tease.

Nanny Rong had Xiao Hong take the two children away before saying, "Madam really is subtle and discreet, just look how well she manages the mansion. Marquis even entrusted her with the front court, and nothing’s gone amiss. Once the mansion opens, the household affairs..."

Old Madam Gu frowned and said, "Of course I know Yuan’er is capable and subtle. Speaking of her medical incense, whose daughter in the Capital City can do that? Yet she doesn’t publicize it everywhere. Speaking of her beauty, considered top tier, yet no word has spread."

"But, suddenly handing all the household management to her, I am still a bit uneasy."

"Not for other reasons, but take Zhenzhen’s situation; the Xu family probably won’t let it go easily. If I ask the Sixth Wife to surrender her authority, who knows where her loyalties will lie? She’s always had a bias towards the Xu family; I usually turn a blind eye and don’t manage it too strictly. She’s also somewhat short-sighted, and just what was left by Aunt Wen isn’t a small amount either. Ah, some words are hard to say directly."

Old Madam Gu sighed.

Nanny Rong thought for a moment before saying, "Sometimes I feel if you don’t take decisive action, it only leads to chaos. Regarding Xu Zhen, I heard Sixth Master scolded Sixth Madam several times, telling the Xu family not to target the Qin family, but she simply didn’t listen, leading to such a mess. This time if we don’t hand over household management to Madam, it might be difficult later on, as they say, ’the tail wagging the dog.’

Old Madam Gu sighed and said, "Let me think about it, anyway, Sixth Wife can’t come out these days, besides, there’s no need to discuss household management just as soon as she comes out, let’s just delay for now.

Nanny Rong said no more.

Old Madam Gu added, "Could it be that all the hardships Hui’er has faced over the past twenty years moved the heavens, giving him such a good wife like Yuan’er. Look at him now, becoming more lively, before everyone said he was like deadwood."

Nanny Rong couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Where is there such a handsome and beautiful deadwood? Marquis has always attracted young maidens, if not for his calm demeanor, this Marquis Mansion would be filled."

...

Marquis Gu pulled Qin Yuan back to Wutong Garden, sat on the Arhat Bed in the main room, and said, "I came looking for you in vain, and you ran off without leaving a word."

Qin Yuan smiled and consoled, "That was my fault, just how did the Marquis end up in the main hall?"

"I wasn’t interested in accompanying the Sixth. Imagining you and Mother enjoying yourselves, I went to find you. The Sixth has become obsessed with studying illustrated books again, spending half the day reciting poems and the other half drawing, keeping himself very busy."

Originally turned half-mad by Qin Siyuan, now fully driven mad by Qin Yuan.

Gu Jinghui frowned disapprovingly.

Qin Yuan just looked at him and smiled, Gu Jinghui cleared his throat and said, "I came because I had something to ask you."

"What’s wrong?"

"Didn’t you have someone investigate the matter of pepper for you? The current market price outside is fifty-five taels of silver per pound. Prince Qi Mansion has recently been busy with who knows what; merchants couldn’t get in touch with the Chief Historian there and have no way to obtain accurate information. The big merchants plan to pool money for a second fleet to go out to sea to search for pepper."

He paused, then asked worriedly, "Do you still plan to stock up on pepper?"

Qin Yuan nodded, saying, "I dreamed that this is the best time, so I must try it. Didn’t you say that even losing wouldn’t be much? Besides, you could help me sell it to the Northern Border."

She looked at him affectionately, her tone intimate and reliant, which melted Gu Jinghui’s heart. He extended his arms, held her close, and said softly, "Alright, I’ll cover you, just don’t stock up too much."

"Understood, one shouldn’t overreach, can’t expect to make all the money alone." Qin Yuan nestled in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, she repeated Old Madam’s words with a smile.

Gu Jinghui nodded heavily, "That’s true, I know you are exceptionally wise, there must be more reason behind your actions than just a dream. Even if you don’t say it, it’s fine. However, when we wage war on the battlefield, we never calculate everything to the last detail. When the calculations are spot on, there are great victories, but when they fail, there’s no recovering. One must know that man’s plans can never be as good as heaven’s plans. Once it becomes irreversible, we are left at others’ mercy. It’s better to play safe and take risks at the right time, never letting desire control you."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Old Madam Gu and Marquis Gu are indeed mother and son, their thoughts clearly following the same line.

Gu Jinghui sighed and said, "About to leave again, you rest early, you’ve worked hard these days."

As Qin Yuan was thinking about his unexpected candidness, Gu Jinghui squeezed and rubbed her hand for quite some time before letting go, saying, "Mother has a good eye, you look beautiful with these pearls. Glad it won’t be long before the mansion opens."